SEBAC 2013 Election

Please review the information on all SEBAC nominees then cast your vote for whom you believe will make the best representative for TAMUCC.

Eugene BlandEugene Bland is in his 10th year at TAMUCC, where he holds the position of Professor of Finance for the College of Business. Before coming to TAMUCC, Bland held the position of Assistant Professor of Finance at Francis Marion University. Bland earned his PhD in Finance from the University of Mississippi. He also holds several professional designations: Certified in Financial Management, Certified Treasury Professional, and has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Bland is involved in several committees at TAMUCC and was recognized for Outstanding Service in the College of Business. His university service includes membership on the Faculty Hearing Committee/Advisory Committee pool, Academic Misconduct committee and he has served as the College of Business liaison to the Corpus Christi Estate Planning Council since 2007. He serves as the seminar coordinator for an estate planning seminar, an event attended by approximately 90 South Texas attorneys, accountants, trust officers, and insurance and other financial professionals. In the online MBA program, Bland teaches a course in Personal Financial Planning. This course deals with advising others on issues such as insurance decisions, housing financing choices, and estate planning issues.

When asked, why are you excited to be nominated, or what would you like to see happen with SEBAC? Bland responded: The System webpage indicates that SEBAC’s function is to advise “the Director of Risk Management and the Employee Benefits Manager on benefit plan design to meet the needs of employees. SEBAC studies the design and operation of the various benefit plans on an ongoing basis and makes recommendations regarding design and administration of the plans.” I believe that we are entering an interesting period. As more provisions of the Affordable Care Act become effective, I see a lot of potential changes to our benefit programs. I believe that my education and experience gives me the background to understand not only the direct effect of the proposed changes, but to look beyond those effects to at least ask questions about potential secondary and unintended consequences of those changes. I believe that I can be an effective advocate for the faculty and staff of TAMUCC and will provide meaningful advice to the Director of Risk Management and the Employee Benefits Manager. What would I like to see happen with SEBAC? I think that the recent federal law changes will force changes to the benefits plans we have enjoyed. I hope to minimize the negative impact of those changes on my fellow TAMUCC employees. I hope that when the choices are ultimately made, they are well informed decisions.

Randall BowdenRandall Bowden is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership in the College of Education. Bowden is a tenured faculty member and is completing his third year with TAMUCC. Prior to joining the University he held various faculty positions and was an Associate Dean. Before Bowden began his 25 years in education, he earned a BA in Biblical Studies, an MA in Communications and a PhD in Higher Education Administration.

Bowden is involved in many aspects of the Campus to include: Faculty in Educational Leadership doctoral program, grant writing, IRB Committee, Faculty Senate, Faculty Affairs (a sub-committee of Faculty Senate), Minimester review, (an ad hoc committee of Faculty Senate) College of Education Tenure and Promotion policy development committee, advisory board member for the Graduate Excellence in Learning: Improving Through Education program, and chair and committee member for faculty searches. His off-campus activities include co-founding and consulting editor for the Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, reviewer for Studies in Higher Education and Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning; and Journal of Educational Technology & Society. In addition, he has been a Coastal Bend Science Fair judge, on the advisory board member for Fischler School of Education & Human Services, Nova Southeastern University, and an analyst for C.W. Carver Early Childhood Center.

When asked why are you excited to be nominated, or what would you like to see happen with SEBAC? Bowden stated: I am excited to be nominated because this is an opportunity to participate in system-wide decision making on critical issues facing the enterprise. This is an opportunity to be involved in important contributions to system institutions. Michael Olivas conveyed that few significant decisions are made on campuses without consulting legal advisors or considering legal consequences. I cannot think of a better committee on which to serve that considers risk and employee benefits in time when higher education is both in a position of fiscal uncertainty and legal volatility.

Cassondra CasanovaCassondra Casanova is the Graduate Studies Coordinator in the College of Graduate Studies. She began her employment with TAMUCC as a student worker in Human Resources and continued in a professional capacity upon earning her Bachelor’s in Business Administration. While working in the College of Graduate Studies, Casanova continues to promote higher education, and is continuing her own, currently working on a Master’s in Public Administration. Casanova is a member of the Corpus Christi Human Resources Management Association and has helped with the annual Career Fair by assisting in recruiting and resume review.

In response to the question why are you excited to be nominated or what would you like to see happen with SEBAC, she responded “I am excited to be nominated because the person who made the nomination is recognizing my hard work. They believe that I can put forth this effort into a new type of project and be successful.” She also mentioned that she has some understanding of benefits from her years of working in HR and understands their importance. Lastly, she mentioned that now working in the College of Graduate Studies, she thinks it’s important that we not forget our Graduate Assistants who participate in the group insurance plans and eligible to vote for our campus SEBAC representative.

Christina GonzalezChristina Gonzalez is currently the Software Licensing Analyst in the Information Security Office of IT. Christina has been with TAMUCC since September 2005 and previously held progressively responsible System Support Specialist positions. Before joining the University, she was Computer Support and Trainer for Whataburger Headquarters and also was a Technology Instructor for the GPISD Community Learning Center.

Gonzalez earned both her bachelors and masters from Texas A&M – Corpus Christi. She earned her B.B.A. in Management Information Systems in 2002 and her M.S. in Educational Technology in 2008. She is also a Certified Software Manager (CSM).

Gonzalez is an active member of the Association of CAUCUS Technology Acquisition Professionals, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Chapter of Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE), National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), and EDUCAUSE which is a national organization consisting of IT leaders and professionals committed to innovations in higher education.

When asked why she was interested in the nomination for SEBAC, she said she was honored and excited to be considered for SEBAC because I understand the importance of good benefits and the impact that they have on employees. I have experience working with IT related contracts for this university along with an education that has served as a great framework for analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation of educational and technological processes. I would love to apply my experience and knowledge towards benefiting the employees (faculty, staff, and graduate student workers) of TAMUCC.

Mary SherwoodMary Sherwood is Chief of Staff for President Flavius Killebrew, a position she has held for seven years. She has worked in the Texas A&M University System since 1990, and her previous positions include Director of Public Affairs for Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs for the A&M System.

Sherwood co-chairs the university’s Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement Committee. She represents the university in the community on the P-16 Council and on the Government Affairs Committee for the Chamber of Commerce. She was also on the leadership team for BoldFuture for the Coastal Bend.

Sherwood earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s in public administration from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Texas A&M University.

When asked why are you excited to be nominated, or what would you like to see happen with SEBAC? Sherwood stated: Benefits are a very important aspect of our total compensation packages, and I would welcome the opportunity to represent the interests of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi employees on the design and administration of benefit plans provided by the A&M System.